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Wyoming Business Tips for Oct. 20-Oct. 26

October 11, 2013 — A weekly look at Wyoming business questions from the Wyoming
Small Business Development Center (WSBDC), part of WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz, a
collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Cindy Unger, WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz business adviser

“I own a small landscaping company and would like to
eliminate some of my invoicing chores by using mobile credit card processing on
site. What do you know about these services?” John, Cody

Credit card acceptance is a necessity for all businesses
today, from doctors to convenience store operators.

Mobile credit card processing allows a business to accept
credit and debit card payments using a smartphone. For mobile businesses or
many home businesses, the ability to accept credit cards through a mobile phone
saves time and makes money. Not only is this an efficient way for your business
to get paid, but it also saves your customers the time, money and effort
involved in paying your invoice at the end of the month.

Examples of the types of businesses for which mobile credit card
processing is an asset include hair stylists, landscapers, house and carpet
cleaners, mobile food trucks, outside sales representatives, farmers market
merchants and many more.

Merchant service companies can now convert smartphones and
tablets into mobile credit card acceptance portals with little effort or
additional investment. This innovation has resulted in decreased exposure to
credit card fraud, charge backs and the added costs of “keyed” transaction
fees.

After deciding what processor to use, complete a merchant
application. Upon acceptance of the application, the business owner will
download the mobile app and secure log-in credentials allocated for the
business depository bank account. A card reader will plug into the audio jack
of a mobile device to swipe customer cards, which will populate the mobile app
with the cardholder information.

All the business owner has to do is swipe the customer’s
card right on the smartphone, have the customer sign on the touchscreen, and
then email the customer a copy of the receipt. Your cell phone, accompanied by
a mobile credit card processing service, will provide real-time validation and
payment processing, low rates, online account management and the ability to
email or text receipts back to the customer.

Business owners should carefully examine the fee structure
of the processor. Typically, you will be charged a set-up fee to start, monthly
service fees and transaction fees every time you process a credit card. Transactions
fees typically are the base rate and the processing rate. Note that one service
may have a low per-transaction fee, but the authorization rate may be high.

Most apps will work with any popular mobile phone. Every
major service uses SSL encryption to ensure that sensitive information is
secure. Individual apps are typically password protected and include additional
safety measures in the event of theft or loss of the device. Credit card
information is never actually stored on the phone.

These payments are typically safer than other methods of
credit card acceptance because the card never leaves the customer’s sight, and
there are no imprinted receipts containing customer credit card information.

The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration,
the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. To ask a question,
call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu or
write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY, 82071-3922.